Nebraska football defensive depth chart has veterans aplenty

A veteran-heavy Nebraska defense will look mostly unchanged as the Huskers begin their 2024 season.

Nebraska unveiled its Week 1 depth chart on Monday, and it features a defense anchored by returning starters at every level of the ball.

Along the defensive line, senior Ty Robinson and Jimari Butler are Nebraska’s starting ends, while senior Nash Hutmacher will start in the interior. Robinson and Hutmacher were the only two Husker linemen to play over 500 snaps last season.

Nebraska rotates heavily up front with sophomores Riley Van Poppel, Kai Wallin, Cameron Lenhardt and James Williams listed as backup defensive ends. Junior Elijah Jeudy is the top backup behind Hutmacher at nose tackle.

NU’s linebacker depth took a hit with Javin Wright’s health-related absence from practice, but 12-game contributors John Bullock and Mikai Gbayor return as the starters in the room. Freshman Vincent Shavers, a top performer throughout fall camp, and Syracuse transfer Stefon Thompson will back up the position.

Nebraska will play two impact pass rushers at its Jack linebacker position, MJ Sherman and Princewill Umanmielen, but it’s Sherman who’ll begin the year as a starter.

There are no surprises in a veteran secondary either where Nebraska’s entire five-man starting unit received single-digit jersey numbers last week. Tommi Hill is joined by Marques Buford as Nebraska’s starting cornerbacks while Malcolm Hartzog, DeShon Singleton and Isaac Gifford also claimed starting roles.

Behind the veterans are a group of mostly untested young defensive backs. Freshman Amare Sanders and junior Ceyair Wright are Nebraska’s backup cornerbacks, while Blye Hill is listed third as he recovers from a spring knee injury.

At safety, Koby Bretz is NU’s most experienced backup as junior Derek Branch and redshirt freshman Rahmir Stewart only appeared in one game apiece last season.